A/n: By the way, I changed some small things in Chapter 2. It was an error on my part where I made it sound as though Jason was a senior last year, so it's not really necessary to re-read, as long as you understand that Jason was a junior last year (in chapter 2) and is a senior in HS in this chapter and for the rest of this story (flashbacks not withstanding)

Chapter Ten: The First Day of North Riverview High School

Kerry fidgeted as she stood at the bus stop. A short boy stood some whiles away chatting with a very petite girl. A bus pulled up two minutes later. A robust black man sat in the seat, "To North Riverview high school?" He asked the boy who was the first to get on. He and the other girl nodded. Kerry smiled at him and bid him good morning. He looked shock and didn't respond. Kerry found the first open seat and sat down. No one said a word to her the entire time.

When Kerry had been at North Riverview to enroll, she had thought it was a small school. Miniscule in comparison to the vastness that was Raritan. But now, now the school seemed enormous, filled with students she didn't know, classrooms she couldn't' identify. It was strange. When Kerry had been a freshman she had had Andrew and Simon to show her around, and even Franklin, and her and JB and Jams were determined to be lost together. She only knew a few people, and only a fraction of them liked her.

The main lobby of the school was packed with students; some loitered in the corners pretending it was still summer. Others greeted their school-friends, the people you'll talk to in school but don't actually go out with outside of school. "Like OMIGOD! Nancy! Your hair looks so CUTE! And I LOVE those shoes! You're SO tan! Why DIDN'T we hang out this summer?" All the conversations that Kerry had the misfortune of overhearing went like that someway.

And just when Kerry was about to panic, she spotted a familiar face. Four in fact, though two of them weren't very reassuring.

"Jason," Kerry said in a flustered voice.

Jason St. Lucella turned. So did Laura, Roger, Eric and several older students that Kerry had never seen before. "Lost?" He asked.

"A bit. Where's room 878?"

"On the third floor," Roger answered with a smirk.

"Really?" I hate classes on the third floor. Too many stairs."

Roger, Eric and a few others laughed. Laura hit Roger on the arm before turning to Kerry. "Sweetie, there's no third floor. That's just what we tell the lost little freshman."

"Oh," Kerry said, slightly defeat. "My old school had a third floor. And I did hate it."

"I'll show you where it is," Jason offered with a smile. "Come on."

"Thanks." Kerry said as they walked away.

"So Courtney and Shannon said you've been MIA since band camp. What's been up with you?" Jason asked casually.

"Oh. I was grounded and Dad took my phone away."

"Oh harsh."

"A bit. So there's really no third floor here, huh?"

Jason laughed. "No. Just two. And 878 happens to be on the second floor." Jason pointed to the stairs and Kerry followed. They ascended in silence, but once they reached the top, Kerry spoke. "Can I ask you a question?"

"You already did," He joked.

Kerry smiled. "Seriously."

"Shoot.:"

"Why does Roger hate me?" Jason froze. Kerry stopped walking and turned to him. "Look I know you and Roger and Eric are like the three musketeers or stooges or whatever, but I think I deserve to know, especially since he trashed my trumpet."

"He did what?"

Kerry stared at her feet. "Uh…"

"Are you saying that he was the one who destroyed your trumpet at band camp? Wait, did he tell you, or are you just assuming?"

"Well I don't know for a fact but I know he was loitering around the band room after I put it away the day before it because Courtney told me he sent her ahead and…"

"Wait so Courtney thinks it to? Did you tell Mr. Rozzen? Dammit Kerry, why didn't you tell me before!"

"Was I supposed to?"

"Mr. Rozzen's gone into hard-core mode since then. If he'd had none…"

"But you're not going to tell him, are you?" Kerry asked. Jason just stared at her. He couldn't tell if it was a threat or an assumption.

"Why didn't you?"

"I have no proof. And I wanted to handle him on my own. I don't want Roger to think that I'm some stupid girl who can't defend herself."

"What are you going to do? Take some petty revenge? You know I thought you were different than all the other girls, Kerry. But I guess I was wrong." Jason rolled his eyes and stomped back down the stairs the two had just come up.

"Great job K," Kerry muttered to herself under her breathe.

"Kerry!" a voice screamed. She turned and saw Shannon and Lena running towards her.

"Hey guys," Kerry said halfheartedly. "Oh, can you tell me where room 878 is?"

"Oh! You have Kimberge first period too! Awesome!" Lena exclaimed.

"Kimberge?" Kerry asked as she allowed Shannon and Lena to lead her away.

"Yeah, Mr. Kimberge is the Honors English II teacher. Laura had him and he was delusional then too, but he's supposed to be retiring soon so he doesn't really care about class," Shannon supplied.

"Is that good?" Kerry mused.

"Very. He gives like the whole class A's and you don't even have to try that hard."

"Sweet."

"I'm so happy. That would be so beat if we had Mrs. Ellison. I heard she's super harsh on the honors kids."

Bzzzzt. "What the heck was that?" Kerry asked as she jumped.

"Warning Bell. Come on let's get to class!" Lena exclaimed.

Kerry's first day went surprisingly well. That is if you exclude Jason ignoring her, having the worst teacher for history, and getting lost 5 times. By the time band rolled around ninth period, Kerry was relieved to be able to just play music.

"So I heard you accused me of ruining your trumpet," Roger stated in a solemn, but threatening voice. "Got some ridiculous revenge plan plotted out, huh? Well I've got some news for you, little Miss thinks-she's-a-hot-shot, don't mess with the flame unless you want to get burned." Roger smirked as he stalked away.

"That looked bad," Courtney stated. "Didn't I tell you at lunch that Jason would tell him?"

"Yeah, I know."

"Don't worry, we'll figure something out."

Kerry nodded and grabbed her concert band trumpet. It cost several thousand dollars, and Kerry was nervous about leaving it in the band room. Mr. Rozzen said she could store it in his office, but Kerry was still apprehensive about it. She sat on the end of the section as they played through the show. Jason conducted, and determinately looked anywhere but at Kerry.

At the end of class, Mr. Rozzen made an announcement. "Remember, rehearsal tonight at 6:00 p.m. sharp. Ends at 8:00 but there's a matter of getting the equipment back inside so don't expect to be done at 8:15 at the earliest. Freshmen will get fitted for uniform and get their shirts. Any returning band member who doesn't have their shirts from last year, bring 5 to buy a new one. I think that's it. Now get lost."

Kerry stashed her trumpet in Mr. Rozzen's office, said goodbye to her friends and went to catch the bus, which turned out to be a repeat of the disastrous morning. Tomorrow, Kerry decided, she would bring her ipod.

Kerry unlocked her front door and threw her book bag on the floor. She walked into her kitchen and saw a boy huddled in the corner.

"Andrew?" There was a clanking noise as Kerry's brother turned around. "Kerry? What are you doing here?"

"Drew, I live here. Shouldn't you be at college?"

"Shouldn't you be at marching band?"

"I asked you first."

"I just forgot something. No big deal. And uh, now that I have it, I think I'll be going." He shut a cabinet and made to walk towards her. "Oh and promise me you won't tell mom and dad? They think college is going to bring me down a notch or something and I don't want them to think of me as forgetful or whatever. So yeah, I hope your first day of school was great and I'll see you soon. Love you kid." With that closing he patted his sister on the head and left. Kerry watched him go with a confused look on her face. After several minutes of starring stupidly at the front door, she went over to investigate what Andrew had been doing. She opened the cabinet and saw bottles of gin and Bicardi. As she ran her finger down the side of one of the bottles, she got a strange feeling in her stomach. As she shut the cabinet, Kerry somehow knew that something was wrong.

A/n: Please Review. Thanks. Sweetest Melody